Job 34:19

34:19 who shows no partiality to princes,

and does not take note of ¹  the rich more than the poor,

because all of them are the work of his hands?

Job 42:3

42:3 you asked, ² 

‘Who is this who darkens counsel

without knowledge?’

But ³  I have declared without understanding ⁴ 

things too wonderful for me to know. ⁵ 

[34:19]  ¹ tn The verb means “to give recognition; to take note of” and in this passage with לִפְנֵי (lifne, “before”) it means to show preferential treatment to the rich before the poor. The word for “rich” here is an unusual word, found parallel to “noble” (Isa 32:2). P. Joüon thinks it is a term of social distinction (Bib 18 [1937]: 207-8).

[42:3]  ² tn The expression “you asked” is added here to clarify the presence of the line to follow. Many commentators delete it as a gloss from Job 38:2. If it is retained, then Job has to be recalling God’s question before he answers it.

[42:3]  ³ tn The word לָכֵן (lakhen) is simply “but,” as in Job 31:37.

[42:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “and I do not understand.” The expression serves here in an adverbial capacity. It also could be subordinated as a complement: “I have declared [things that] I do not understand.”

[42:3]  ⁵ tn The last clause is “and I do not know.” This is also subordinated to become a dependent clause.